Kay and Anne were hugging her with abandon, but Florence’s eyes rested on Seth, dark and glistening like liquid diamonds. Full of hope.
No. Not yet, Sadie thought.
She hadn’t given much thought to meeting her mother, so consumed had she been with Gigi’s health and the family secrets. When Gigi had said that only her death would let her daughter come back, Sadie had tucked the information away. In years, she thought, maybe she’ll come back. After we’ve had time to grieve. Yet there she stood.
She was tired of accepting things as they came. Each calamity had stacked up until the weight made it almost impossible to breathe. She’d grown up hearing that God never gave you more than you could handle, but He’d obviously mistaken her for someone else. And this was the last straw.
Manners. Manners, Sadie. Gigi would have your hide. Instead, she said, “You’ve got to be shitting me.”
Everyone’s eyes snapped up to her.
And then Sadie saw her. She’d been partially obscured by her aunts. A girl, maybe seven. She wore a rainbow tutu over striped leggings and a shirt that read “Unicorns are real.” Her Converse sneakers were scuffed, and she held a raggedy stuffed lamb in one hand. Sadie saw a slight movement to the girl’s right, a shape that rippled in the air, but when she looked closer, it vanished.
“I’m sorry,” her mother finally spoke. “I know this must be a terrible shock.”
“Nonsense,” said Kay, pulling Florence’s arm and dragging her over the threshold. “Come in out of the cold. I can’t believe you’re here. I can’t believe you’re real!”
“And who’s this?” Anne asked.
“I’m Sage,” said the little girl. “And this is Cocoa.” She held up the stuffed lamb.
“Your sister,” said Florence, her eyes were guarded as she put a protective arm around the child’s shoulders. Just then, Bambi ambled out from the living room and went to Sage like he’d been waiting for her. He nuzzled his nose into her little hand before plopping down beside her like a sentinel.
“Impossible,” Sadie breathed, finally finding her voice. “The conduit magic—” she started, but Anne cut her off sharply.
“I’ve heard that lambs love hot chocolate. Is that true?” her aunt asked.
Sage nodded, her eyes wide.
“Come on then. I happen to have a very special recipe I think you’ll like.” Anne held out her hand, and Sage looked to her mother, who nodded briefly, before the girl took Anne’s hand. “Come on, Kay.”
“But—” Kay started to whine until Anne gave her a wicked glare. “Fine, fine, I’m coming. You’re so bossy.”
Bambi traipsed after them, and then they were alone, Sadie still halfway up the stairs, Seth still mute, the door still ajar.
What do I do? The thought traced itself over and over in her brain.
And then Florence held out an arm to Seth. Without a blink he walked forward into her embrace.
Sadie felt the tug of jealousy. It was what Seth had always wanted. But when Florence held out her other arm, a question in her eyes as she looked at Sadie, her feet moved of their own accord. And then, after twenty-eight years, she was hugging her mother. And they were both crying.
“I miss her so much.” Florence sobbed quietly. “I never got to say goodbye. I missed so much.”
Seth made a strangled noise as a sob escaped.
Sadie pulled back awkwardly, staring at the ground.
Their mother was back. But even knowing she’d left because of the magic, the curse, didn’t take away the sting of abandonment she’d felt her whole life. Florence may have given birth to her, but how was she supposed to behave toward the woman when she’d never set eyes on her? What were the rules of civility when it came to long-lost mothers? Sadie, who hated trying new things for fear of being bad at them; who refused to do things in front of people because she didn’t want to mess up; who liked to seem like she knew what she was doing, even if she didn’t. And right now, she was a sailor without the stars.
Seth pulled out of their mother’s embrace too, and the three of them stood there, not knowing what to say or do, until finally Anne called from the kitchen that hot chocolate was ready.
“I know we have a lot of things to talk about,” Florence said. “Can we stay? I’ll tell you everything so long as you do the same.”
Sadie was surprised when Seth looked to her.
“Yes, of course,” Sadie croaked out. “You’re family, after all.”